Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Ethnically and Racially Diverse Emerging Adults: Do Factors Unique to the Minority Experience Matter?

Many emerging adults report experiencing mental health challenges (e.g., depressive symptoms and perceived stress) during the transition to university. These mental health challenges often coincide with increased engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI; e.g., self-cutting or burning without lethal intent), but longitudinal research exploring the nature of the associations among depressive symptoms, perceived stress, and NSSI are lacking. In the present study, it was examined whether depressive symptoms and perceived stress predicted increased risk for NSSI over time (or the reverse), and whether these effects were mediated or moderated by self-compassion. The sample consisted of 1,125 university students ( Mage = 17.96 years, 74% female), who completed an online survey three times in first year university. A random intercept cross-lagged panel model revealed that higher depressive symptoms, perceived stress, NSSI, and lower self-compassion often co-occurred, but only NSSI predicted increased perceived stress over time. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

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Stressful Experiences in University Predict Non-suicidal Self-Injury Through Emotional Reactivity

Frontiers in Psychology ◽

10.3389/fpsyg.2021.610670 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Chloe A. Hamza ◽

Abby L. Goldstein ◽

Nancy L. Heath ◽

Lexi Ewing

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Online Survey ◽

Emotional Reactivity ◽

First Year ◽

Self Injury ◽

Specific Risk ◽

Theoretical Perspectives ◽

History Of ◽

Stressful Experiences

Theoretical perspectives on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI; direct and deliberate self-injury without lethal intent such as self-cutting or hitting) have long underscored the affective regulating properties of NSSI. Less attention has been given to the processes through which individuals choose to engage in NSSI, specifically, to regulate their distress. In the present study, we tested one theoretical model in which recent stressful experiences facilitates NSSI through emotional reactivity. Further, we tested whether the indirect link between stressful experiences and NSSI was moderated by several NSSI specific risk factors (e.g., having friends who engage in NSSI). Given the widespread prevalence of NSSI among community-based samples of adolescents and emerging adults, we surveyed 1,125 emerging adults in first-year university at a large academic institution (72% female, Mage = 17.96, 25% with a recent history of NSSI at Time 1). Participants completed an online survey three times (assessments were 4 months apart), reporting on their recent stressful experiences in university, emotional reactivity, NSSI, as well as three NSSI specific risk factors (i.e., close friend engagement in NSSI, high self-disgust, and low fear of pain). As expected, path analysis revealed that there was a significant indirect effect of recent stressful experiences on NSSI engagement, through emotional reactivity. However, this effect was maintained across moderator analyses. These novel findings underscore the salient role of proximally occurring stressors in the prediction of NSSI among emerging adults in university, and can inform developing theoretical perspectives on NSSI.

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Differences in Healthcare Access, Use, and Experiences Within a Community Sample of Racially Diverse Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Emerging Adults

LGBT Health ◽

10.1089/lgbt.2015.0124 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

pp. 434-442 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

Kathryn Macapagal ◽

Ramona Bhatia ◽

George J. Greene

Keyword(s):

Emerging Adults ◽

Community Sample ◽

Healthcare Access ◽

Racially Diverse

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The Association Between Masculinity and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

American Journal of Men s Health ◽

10.1177/1557988315624508 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 30-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jonathan D. Green ◽

Jaclyn C. Kearns ◽

Annie M. Ledoux ◽

Michael E. Addis ◽

Brian P. Marx

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Emerging Adults ◽

Negative Emotionality ◽

Future Research ◽

Web Based ◽

Masculine Norms ◽

Self Injury ◽

Self Harm ◽

Emotion Skills ◽

Nonsuicidal Self Injury

Several known risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), such as negative emotionality and deficits in emotion skills, are also associated with masculinity. Researchers and clinicians suggest that masculine norms around emotional control and self-reliance may make men more likely to engage in self-harm. Masculinity has also been implicated as a potential risk factor for suicide and other self-damaging behaviors. However, the association between masculinity and NSSI has yet to be explored. In the current study, a sample of 912 emerging adults from two universities in the Northeastern United States completed a web-based questionnaire assessing adherence to masculine norms, engagement in NSSI, and known risk factors for NSSI (demographics and number of self-injurers known). Stronger adherence to masculine norms predicted chronic NSSI (five or more episodes throughout the life span) above and beyond other known risk factors. Adherence to masculine norms was related to methods of NSSI. Clinical implications are discussed, including discussions of masculine norms in treatment settings. Future research should examine what specific masculine norms are most closely linked to NSSI and other self-damaging behaviors.

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